Signal-box.



C. E. BEACH & L. J. VOORHEES.

SIGNAL BOX. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23.1915.

1,205,31 9. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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WITNESSES:

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C. E. BEACH & L. .l. VOORHEES.

SIGNAL Box; APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1915. v I

' Patented Nov. 21,1916.

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WITNESS/581 I, a M 'l' CLARENCE E. BEACH AND LEE J.

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VOORHEES, 0F BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY,

-A, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNAL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, rare.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLARENCE E. BEACH and LEE J. VooRHEEs, citizens of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county .of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to signal boxes having a manual starting or operating handle a by means of which they, may be set in mosaid boxes more reliable and efficient in operation, and to attain the new results hereinafter described and more fully pointed out in the claims.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of parts shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this application, described in the following specifications, and more partlcularly pointed out in the claims.

Like characters of reference denote the same parts throughout the accompanymg drawings, in which- 4 Figure 1 is a front view of a signal box embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a View showing the outer door open, and exposing the operating handle mounted upon the mner door; Fig. 3 shows the signal box of Figs. 1 and 2 with both doors open; F g. 4 is a front elevation of the signaling tram of the box shown in Fig. 3 removed from the case; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the signaling train shown in Fig. 4; and Flg. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the signaling mechanism mounted upon the inner door taken on the lines 6-6 of Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail to be referred to.

Referring to Fig.2, 11 isthe outerdoor, hmged to the case at 12, and provided with a spring latch 13 adapted to engage with the notched stud 14, mounted upon the inner door 15, so as to yieldingly retain the outer door in closed position.

The recessed head 16 is suitably formed upon or connected to the screw 17 carried by the door 12 (see also Fig. 3), said head being adapted to receive a suitable key for turning said screw, the free end of said screw being adapted to enter the opening 18 in the back of the case 19 for the purpose of firmly holding the door 15 in closed position.

The operating handle 20 is fixed upon he shaft 21 and is so formed as to be rea ily manipulated. The shaft 21 passes through thedoor 15,,,and the front plate 22 and back,

plate 23 which form part of the signaling train, comprising the motor spring 24 which 1s connectefl to the main shaft 25 which carries the ratchet 26 and. main gear 27 for driving the shaft 28 carrying the wheel 29 which drives the escape wh l 30 whose movement is regulated by the es'capement pallet 31. A restoring spring 32 is so applied to the shaft 21 as to tend to turn said shaft in the direction which will raise the operating handle 20. A ratchet is provided for resisting the movement of said shaft 21 in response to the spring 32, comprising the ratchet wheel 33 and the pawl 34 adapted to engage Jtherewith. A detent arm 35 is loosely pivoted upon the shaft 21 and carries near its free end the detent pin or projection 36 which is adapted to engage with said boss having a slot 39 formed therein in 49, a holding face believing that the suitable relation to the pin 40 carried by the shaft 21.

Suitable winding mechanism for the.

motor spring 24is provided, consisting of the pinion 41 fixed upon the shaft 25, and the sector 42 pivoted at 43 and adapted to coiiperate with said pinion 41. A follower arm 44 is pivoted at 43- and is adapted to move independently of the sector 42 and is adapted to suitably engage said sector so that it may drive said sector in one direction. The collar 45 is secured to the shaft 43 and provides an outboard bearing for the follower arm 44 and acts as a stop as hereinafter more fully explained. Forconvenience and economy in manufacture, a tongue 42 may be formed in the sector 42 in such position as engaged by the follower arm 44. The spring 46 is so applied to the follower arm 44 as to tend to hold said arm against the tongue 42*.

The follower 47 consists of a roller mounted in the path, of the cam 48 and adapted to suitably coiiperate with said cam. The cam 48 is provided with a winding face 50, and a deflecting face 51, said faces being the train is unwound, the follower 47 will lie in the path of the winding face 49, and thereupon if the shaft 21 is rotated by depressing the operating handle 20, said winding face 49 will impart such motion to the follower 47 as will swing the sector 42 in engagement with the pinion 41 and thereby suitably wind the motor spring 24.

A connection is provided for disengaging the pawl 34 from the ratchet wheel 33 when the signaling train is unwound, consisting of the extension 52 carried by the sector 42. The teeth of the ratchet wheel 33 are so spaced in relation to the movement imparted to the shaft 25 by the rotation of the shaft 21 that one of said teeth will be engaged by the pawl 34 just prior to or at the time that each tooth of the ratchet 26 is engaged by the pawl associated therewith, so that if the operating handle 20 is depressed for less than its entire travel, it cannot be left in a position where upon subsequent operation it will be permitted to move a substantial distance opposed only by the restoring spring 32 and then be brought into engagement with the follower 47 and thereby mislead the operator into initial movement had wound the train and that the handle had reached its limiting stop.

The length of the winding face 49 is such as to be adapted to drive the follower 47 far enough to carry the ratchet 26 a substantial fraction of a tooth more than the desired number of teeth, for the doublepurpose of assuring a margin in movement so that the train will always be sufiiciently to be adapted to be so formed that whenv wound, and for permitting the motor spring 24 to raise the sector 42 far enough after the winding face 49 has disengaged the follower 47 so that said follower will pass above the holding face 50, and thereby retain the operating handle 20 in its depressed position during the entire running of the train and thereby give a visual indication that the train has been set in motion.

The holding face 50 is of such length as to enable the follower 47 to-hold the cam 48 in depressed position until the signaling train has completed the desired movement, whereupon the extension 52 will disengage the pawl 34 from the ratchet wheel 33, and the cam 48 will be restored to the position shown in Fig. 4 by the restoring spring 32,

the deflecting face 51 being of such length as to sufiiciently raise the follower 47, against the tension of the spring'46 during such restoration of the cam 48, so that after said follower has passed thejunction of the The terminal strips 58 and 59 are clampedsprings 55 and 56, respectively, by means of the attaching screws 60-60 and 6161 respectively. The contact spring 56 and terminal strip 59 are provided with a clearance hole for each attaching screw 60 through which the head of said screw may freely pass, and a suitable recess is provided in the insulating block 57 soas to permit the head of each screw to be sunk far enough below the plane of the contact spring 56 to provide a suitable clearance, a suitable number of screws being employed, which pass through the contact spring 55 and are screwed into the terminal strip 58, similar provisions preferably being made for suitable attaching screw or screws 61, so that the insulating block need not be tapped, and may be constructed of comparatively brittle material as the strain applied thereto bythese screws is only a clamping against the strain, and the contact springs and terminal for each contact spring need be used, and it is further evident that, if desired, the ter- 'minal strips may be omitted and suitable nuts used in place thereof.

A crank 62 is carried by the shaft 63 and is'provided with an insulating covering 64, adapted when swung in one direction to lift the contact spring 56 out of engagement with the contact spring 55, and when swung in the opposite direction to hold the contact spring 55 in engagement; with the contact spring 56.

A stop pin 65 is fixed in the plate 23 in the path of a. projection 66 moving with the shaft 63 so as to suitably limit the movement of the crank 62.

The recessed head 67 (see Figs. 2 and 4) is carried by the shaft 63, and the door 15 has a hole so that such shaft may be suitably rotated by inserting a proper key through said hole in the door and into the recess in the head. i

The shield 68 is provided around the signaling train for protecting said train from interference from, the connecting wires leading to the terminal strips 58 and 59.

A limiting arm or detent 69 is carried by the shaft 25 and is adapted to be carried in the path of the limiting pin 70 when the train is unwound, so as to assure the stopping of the train at a proper point even if the detent pin 36 is held out of the path of the escape wheel30 by manually retaining the operating handle 20 in depressed position after the box has completed the transmission of its signal. The operation offthis box is as follows: When in normal position,

the parts stand as shown in Figs. 2, 4 andv 5, except that the door 11 should be kept normally closed to suitably protect the operating handle 20. 'When it is desired to transmit a signal, the door 11 is opened and the operating handle 20 is grasped and dc.- pressed, thereby carrying with it the shaft 21 and cam 48, the winding'face 49 of which cam is thus forced against the follower 47,

thereby carrying the follower arm44 and sector 42 downward and turning the shaft 25 so as to suitably wind the motor spring 24. As the operating handle 20 is thus depressed, the ratchet 26 and pawl 34 each act at about the same time, or in any event the pawl 34 acts no later than the ratchet 26, so

that if the operating handle is'not depressed for a, sufiicient distance to start the train, it will be left standing in a position from which its downward movement will be 0pposed by the force of the motor spring 24. If theoperating handle 20 is depressed as far as it will go, the winding face 49 will be brought into engagement with the collar 45 and said winding face 49 will be withdrawn from the path of the follower 47 whereupon the back lash of the ratchet 26 and the signaling train will permit the motor spring 24 to slightly raise the sector 42 and thus carry the follower 47 in the path of the holding face 50. Such rotation of the shaft 21 as will withdraw the winding face 49 from the path of the follower 47 will also 1 operates, and just before the completion of the intended operation of the signaling train, said follower will be carried to the left of said holding face (see Fig. 4). When the follower 47 has been thus carried'to the left of the holding face 50, a slight additional operation of the train will carry the sector 42 high enough to cause the exten-.

sion'52 to carry the pawl 34 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 33 and thus permit the shaft 21 to be restored to'normal position by the spring 32. If such restoration of the shaft 21 is prevented byholding the operating handle 20 in depressed position after the pawl 34 has been thus disengaged, the train can move but a short distance farther'as the pin will be carried into en- 7 gagement with the limiting arm 69 which is carried into the path of said pin when the signaling train has completed its intended operation. Upon the disengagement of the pawl 34 from the ratchet wheel 33, the shaft 21 will be rotated to its normal position by means of the spring 32 unless manually restrained (as just described), and such rotation-will cause the deflecting face 51 of the cam 48 to engage the follower 47 and raise the follower arm 44 a short distance above the tongue 42*, but, upon the completion of such return movement of the shaft 21, the deflecting face 50 will be carried out of the path of the follower 47 whereupon the arm 44 will be swung into contact With the tongue 42 by the spring 46 and thus carry the follower 47 into the path of the winding face 49. If it is desired to operate the contacts 55 and 56 without operating the signal train, the shaft 63 may be so rotated by in the recessed head 67 as to bring the insulatmg covering 64 into engagement with the inserting a suitable key I contact 56 and lift said contact out of engagement with the contact 55. If it is de'- sired to operate the signaling train without operatively affecting the signaling contacts 55 and 56, the shaft 63 should be rotated in the opposite direction, so as to hold the contact 55 independently of the signaling lever 54, and while so held the signaling train may be operated and the contact 55 will remain in engagement with the contact 56. In either event, when released the shaft 63 will be returned to normal position, as shown in Fig. 5, through the action of the spring 71.

WVhat we claim is:

1. In a signal-box, a windable signaling train, an operating handle I for said train adapted to be manually operated in one direction to wind the train, a plurality of engaging means adapted for successive operation as the handle is moved into wound position for retaining said handle against movement in the opposite direction in intermediate positions as well as in wound position, said engaging means being arranged to be operated by a part moving with the train to release said handle when the train is unwound, and a spring for restoring the handle when released.

2. In a signal-box, a windable signaling train, a winding-member for the train, a manually operable cam coacting with said winding-member having a winding-face and a holding-face, the winding-face engaging and moving the winding-member during manual operation of the cam to wind the train, and the winding-member movingover the holding-face and holding the cam while the train is running to send its signal, and disengaging said holding=face when the signal is sent to admit of restoration of the cam and of the passing of the windingmember into engagement with the windingface.

3. In a signal-box, a windable signaling train, a pivoted sector engaging the winding-shaft, a winding-arm independent of but adapted for engagement withsaid sector, a manually operable cam coacting with said winding-arm, having 'awi nding-face and a holding-face, the Winding-face moving the winding-member to wind the train, and the winding-arm passing over the holding-face while the train is running and the signal is being'sent, to hold said cam against return movement, said cam having means for moving said winding-arm independently of the sector to cause it to pass onto the windingf-ace when the signal is sent.

4. In a signal-box, a. windable signaling train, a pivoted sector engagingthe winding-shaft, a winding arm independent of but normally held in engagement with said sector by a spring, a manually operable cam coacting with said winding-arm having a winding-face, a. holding-face, and a deflecting-face, the winding-face engaging and moving the winding-arm during manual operation of the cam to wind the train, and the winding-arm moving over the holdingface and holding the cam while the train is running to send its signal and disengaging said holding-face when the signal is sent, and the deflecting-face engaging the winding-arm as the cam is being restored to lift said arm and permit it to pass from the defleeting-face onto the winding face.

5. In a signal-box, a windable signaling train, a winding-member for the train, a manually operable cam coacting with said winding-member having a winding-face, a holding-face, and a deflecting face, the winding-face adapted to engage and move the winding-member during manual operation of the cam to wind the train, the windingmember moving over the holding-face to hold the cam while the train is running to send its signal, and the deflecting-face engaging the winding-member and releasing it while the cam is being restored to admit of said winding-member passing .onto the winding-face when disengaged from the defleeting-face.

6. In a signal-box, a windable signaling train, an operating handle adapted to be manually operated in one direction to Wind the train, means for holding it in wound position while the signal is being sent and for releasing it at the end ofthe signal, means for automatically restoring it when released, and two detents for the train, one of said detents being controlled by the train in running and arranged to become efl'ective whenever the train has run downto a predetermined point, and the other of'said detents being controlled by the handle and arranged to become effective when the handle is in restored position, and to remain effective while the handle is being moved manually into wound position.

7. In a signal box, a windable signaling train, an operating handle adapted to be manually operated in one direction, means for automatically restoringsaid handle after manual operation thereof, retaining means controlled by said train and adapted to hold said handle against restoration except when said train is unwound, a cam moving with said operating handle, a winding member for said train adapted to suitably cooperate with said cam, and two detents for said train one of said detents being arranged to become effective whenever said train has run down to a predetermined point and the other of said detents being arranged to become effective when the operating handle is in restored position and to remain effective during a suitable portion of the operation of the operating handle.

8. In a signal box, a windable signaling train, an operating handle for said train adapted to be manually operated in one direction, means for automatically moving said handle in the opposite direction, a follower mounted upon a suitable follower arm, a winding sector for said train having a tongue formed therein projecting in the path of said follower 'arm,'a yielding connection between said sector and said 01- ration of the operating handle so that said yielding connection may condition the follower to be again acted upon by said cam upon the complete restoration of said cam.

9. In a signaling mechanism, an insulating b ock having attaching screw holes therein, signaling contacts mounted upon the opposite sides of said block, and attaching screws for said contacts, each of said contacts'having a clearance opening therein for the head of each attaching screw for the other contact.

10. In a signaling mechanism, an insulating block adapted to have signaling-contacts attached to the opposite sides thereof and having clearance holes therein to receive attaching screws for said contacts counter-,

bored so that the heads of said screws will not project outside the surface of said block,

slgnaling contacts adapted to be'mounted 7 upon said opposite sides of said block and each having openings therein corresponding in size and location to the ends of said screw holes in said block adjacent to said respective contacts, and attaching screws for said vcontacts.

11. In a signaling'mechanisni, an insulatin block having suitable attaching screw ho es therein, signaling contacts mounted the action of said upon the opposite sides of .said block, and

g attaching screws for said contacts, recesses provided in a side of said block for,

being the heads of the attaching screw or screws of the contact mounted on the opposite side thereof to permit such screw head or heads to be sunk a suitable distance below the surface of said side, and a clearance hole being provided in one contact for the head of each attaching screw of the other contact.

12. In a signaling mechanism, an insulating block having suitable attaching screw holes therein, signaling contacts mounted upon the opposite sides of said block, and

attaching screws for said contacts, recesses being provided in a side of said block for the heads of the attaching screw or screws of the contact mounted on the opposite side thereof to permit such screw head or heads to be sunk a suitable distance below the surface of said side, and a clearance hole being provided in one contact for the head of each attaching screw of the other contact, a signaling train adapted to suitably operate said contacts, and testing means for said signaling mechanism comprising a movable arm adapted when moved in one direction to separate said contacts independent of the action of said signaling train and when moved in the opposite direction to retain said contacts in engagement regardless of signaling train.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 18th day of February, A. D., 1915.

- C. E. BEACH.

L. J. VOORHEES. Witnesses:

HOLTON, F. A. DUFFY. 

